Maped Coloured Pencils

This French firm began life in 1947 as Manufacture d'Articles de Précision et de Dessin, making brass compasses for map-drawing and school work. In 1985 it branched out into producing scissors, later followed by pencil sharpeners, then other school stationery items and framing tools. It now has branches across the world and has taken over several other stationery companies, including eraser-producer Mallat and generalist Helix.